Autumn is in the air and skaters were everywhere. The sun was shining and the afternoon was beautiful. But with a slight chill in the air, more than one person was uncertain how to dress for this doughnut excursion. (We found the answer in skating with a warm coffee in our hands.) The normal Zkate core was dressed and ready to go – Chuck O, J3 (Jay M, Jethro J & Jim M) and beautiful Renee W. David L returned to the street from his slumber and always kept his coffee within drinking distance. He’s been associated with A2A for as long as I can remember (well Ok, 1998 was my first A2A), but I’ve never seen him on skates until this year. We were quite happy to have him tag along and join the wonderful and relaxed Zocial Zkating atmosphere of the now popular Zzz. Also with us were Bill B, the ever lovely Jennifer H, and Marc Sk8 Pierre (may God forgive Jennifer for skipping out of church early - please). Nancy G and Don S joined the Zzz for their first time; but most importantly, Aaron K was with us. Aaron was a recruit from our Halloween bar-to-bar skate. We had met him at the Yacht Club, but not until now did he recognize that the skates on our feet were actually a part of our every day lives.

Once Nancy was ready to go, we changed our itinerary and made Skate Escape our first priority. We needed parts more than coffee. It was there that Aaron found us and joined in. Now we needed coffee, so the next stop was Caribou Coffee, on 10th & Piedmont – just up the hill. While relaxed in the Caribou, we explained the purpose of this unique skating experience to the newcomers. Nancy became excited and was ready to skate, skate, skate. Nancy – this is not a skate: it’s a Zkate! (She eventually changed her tunes after the doughnuts.)

Twenty minutes easily slipped by us while in the Caribou. With a new caffeine fix, we were off and skating before we knew it. Paul H and Bob L then joined our quest, but were on their bikes. Our new bearing was Centennial Park, and its water fountains. Once there, we tried to set up for one of Marc Sk8 Pierre’s group photos, but we were sternly reminded by a City official on a bicycle that skaters are not allowed in the Park itself, but only on the surrounding roads - - NUTS !!! So Marc snapped our picture at a second choice location (on the side of the fountain opposite the City official). We let some of the skaters catch their breath & drink-in the beautiful water fountains, and we caught-up with each other on the most current scoops.

From Centennial Park, we meandered over to the Student Center, on the Georgia Tech Grounds, for a multi-use rest. On the Zzz – there is always lots of rest. So we rested. And we started talking about doughnuts. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. The next stop: MMMmmmmmm DOUGHNUTS !!! After a while, off we go – shooting back to Peachtree Street and onto Ponce De Leon, with a purpose now in our stride: DOUGHNUTS !!!

While en route, we did have an unfortunate incident with some kids. "Bruiser" Don had to actually physically encourage one of the kids out of his way – thankfully no one was hurt. But all this was forgotten once we came within the wonderful sent of doughnuts – doughnuts in the crisp autumn air. Remember our Nancy? The one who’s always ready to skate, skate, skate? Well, after a half-hour stop at Krispy Kreme, eating doughnuts and drinking coffee, she finally knew what the Zkate was all about. Although it's she who's the psychologist, we suddenly were able to see deep inside her. “Leaving already? – I just got comfortable!!!,” she said.

Yea, we have another convert.

From the doughnut shop, it was back to the Park, and then to Willy’s for lunch – not wanting the day’s event’s to be finished yet. And because today was so, overly beautiful, we ran into several of our skater friends. We call them our friends, but they’re yet to become part of our Zkate cult.

Our Zunday zleeper zkate (Zzz)On Sunday Afternoon - November 9, 2003(Photography contained in this entry, and in the following two entries.)

Buzzing under the bright blue sky about the bakingbusiness, and being boisterous about being back fora big batch of freshly baked bijoux and brewedbeverages – how bittersweet our blather about blackbeans and burly blends of flower and dough – only toblossom in our bloating bellies… Benevolent !!!

Jethro momentarily joined the Bohemian Skate School.Where Paul & Cindy normally charge by the hour, Jethrowanted to save the majority of his quarters for thedelights to come. Delane (in purple) is taking instructionfrom the Bohemians, but she's also taken delight in agood friendship with Jethro.

Jethro said to me: “lets skate, skate, skate over to SkateEscape.” That’s where we to join-up with the other Zzz'ers.

Marc Sk8 Pierre’s newest friend, Bailey W.She came into the toy store to get a new brake forher skate. “I’m goin’ to join a skating league here inAtlanta,” she very happily said to me. “They meetevery week and do a lot of skating, in a circuit I think.”

I became excited too.

“Yea, they meet at the Carter Center,” she continued.

“Do they meet on Monday & Wednesday nights???,”I asked her.

“I’m not sure. I’ll have to look at their website.But I want-ta’ be there.”

“Be sure to check-out their Weblog,” I said to her as wescrambled out of the store - - it was high-time for coffee!(For the rest of the day, I was sick all the way to my soulthat I didn’t invite her to come along with us. - -I would've kept her in my pocket!)

Bill & Jennifer were still in the toy store. And so wasPaul H and I. Everyone else had long since been gone.We knew they went to Caribou, but which one? Therewere two of them, equidistant from us, and in oppositedirections. Paul and I went to the one we thoughtthey’d be at, but they weren’t there. So we then wentthe distance to the other one. They weren’t there either.We headed back to the first, and I then rememberedthat I had no wallet. Paul continued on to the firstCaribou, and I detoured into Piedmont Park to retrievesome donut $$$.

Finally, I was back at the first Caribou, but no one elsewas. Well, except for Bob L, who was surprisingly not onhis skates or in a fixed-up Porsche, but mounted on hisequally fast bike.

Pictured: Bob at a fairly good speed, heading upPeachtree Street. He and I soon caught up to the otherskaters.

Pulling Nancy up one of the many long hills onPeachtree Street.

A dozen or so glazed-over Zzz’ers on Peachtree Street.

David L soaking up the sun, drinking up the coffee, andskating up Peachtree Street.

Aaron was having the time of his life. Skating is a blast...but the Zzz is nothing but Awesome!

Time for a refill !!!(Jennifer H)

Renee W & Bob L (just ahead of her on his bike), andall the others (just ahead of Bob) – on Peachtree Street,heading into a tranquil downtown Atlanta.

Our Zunday zleeper zkate (Zzz)On Sunday Afternoon - November 9, 2003(Photography contained in this entry, in the previous entry, and in the following entry.)

GROUP PHOTO!!!, GROUP PHOTO!!!, EVERYONE GATHERAROUND OVER HERE FOR A GROUP PHOTO!!! I wantedeveryone on the other side of the pretty fountain, sothey would not be back-lit by the powerful sun.

“You’all not suppoz’ ta’ be in this Park with skatz’ on.No skatz’ in the Park. Gotta’ be off da’ bricks and outa’da Park,” the mean, young, non-skating, bicycle ridinglady, who had some sort of official looking patch on herchest, said to our friendly, multi-aged, skating andbicycle riding group, that has some sort of official lovewithin our chests.

So what the hell, I took the pic on the opposite side ofthe fountain from her.

Midtown’s residential district. A beautiful place to live!(Jay, Chuck, and Jethro in the lead)

The souvenir cup of coffee is but one of severalwe’ve had this afternoon. None of us could get enough!

Back at Piedmont Park, we saw lots and lots of skatingfriends.

Here, at Willy’s Mexican Restaurant, Mamie’s beau isJonathan K. He had his first skating lesson with Paul Kof Bohemian Skate School, immediately prior to drinkinga pitcher of margaritas with this cutest blond in town –being Mamie. Also present with the two were APRR'sMike B & his lady, APRR skater Kristie K – who had circledPiedmont Park with Mamie until they got tired of doinglaps. Then they began to fly kites with their skates on.

Even after putting my skates on to elevate myself, I could not count so high. I kept counting heads and there just seemed to be so many. Either the weather was so pretty today, or everyone knew that the pretty weather will become more limited, or perhaps everyone is still recovering from Halloween parties – and want to go “easy” with their Sunday morning coffee and donuts.

With so many people, I won’t list all the names, because I know I’ll forget someone. And in APRR, everyone’s important. We had some very loyal Zzz skaters with us, some APRR skaters who were new to the Zzz, and even two skaters who were new to APRR. (Elizabeth D’s roommate – Kelly, and Dewey P’s girlfriend – Elena) WOO HOO, the recruiting to the Zzz cult begins!

After all the introductions in the Piedmont Park Parking Lot, we eased our way to the first of three coffee stops. Caribou Coffee, at Piedmont & Monroe, was the first. While getting the morning “Cup O’ Joe,” we lazily talked about our direction of migration, and where our massive herd should head. Up through Morningside we went, taking residential roads that I have no clue of how we got to.

“Turn Right…”“Turn Left…”…I heard lots of turning directions being yelled-out, up the lines.

We saw a yard sale off to the side of our path and decided to do some bargain hunting. Our shopping paid-off too, since Mark D found a K2 snowboard (with carrying bag) for a mere $10. Now, he was skating with us with his new purchase in tow. But after 5 minutes of skating with the cumbersome device, he decided this was both unwise and uncomfortable. He set-out to drop-off his purchase, and we set-off to drop-in to Little Five Points. We ordered more coffee and water, and waited for Mark to rejoin us.

Once all collected together and coffeed-up, we skated down Euclid Ave to Edgewood, and gathered at the Mitchell Fountain. Pretty waterfall/fountain! I could lose an entire day just listening to it and watching its water cascade down its front. But there was yet a better prize waiting for us…

KRISPY KREEMs !!!!!

We made our way over to the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts on Ponce de Leon. With all the energy we expended so far, we sure replaced it with free samples –hot off the belts– and two dozen doughnuts purchased for our delights.

Tonight was pretty simple. We were to wear a costume, wear our skates, and bring lots of beer $$$.Then, it was simply a matter of being able to find the entrance to the next Little Five Points or Virginia Highlands bar – provided we could find the street.

Tigeress, Jennifer H at Moe’s & Joe’s

Jennifer H.

Our mainstay Cat In The Hat, Jethro J.Dr. Seuss would have been Perrrr..oud.

I’m crazy to have not gotten there on time. I was not only late - I arrived when everyone else was leaving. “Oh, Marc’s here,” I heard someone’s voice exclaim. But to no avail, I had to guess no one would care. They were all “pumpkined-out.” (I met the mass of people at the fence gate. They were trying to push themselves out as I was trying to force my way in – you know, like you and I do on a commuter train or at an elevator.) But not Lisa. She was no where near tired of making beautiful faces. “You’re just in time,” she said.

Pumpkins by Paula B-P and Carl C.The pumpkin on the right is named“Mr. Sam F” under a kind & enduringauspice of love & affection.

A second look at “Mr. Sam F.”

Two creators of love & affection.(Paula B-P & Carl C)

(Photo by Lisa M)

Creators of some GREAT Pumpkins(Chuck O, Stephanie R, Jim M, and Jethro J)